Undergraduate
Undergraduate program – a 4-year educational program at one of the Nazarbayev University Schools, confirmed with the diploma and conferral of the bachelor’s degree.
This section includes terms and definitions associated with the online application, examinations required for the competition and enrollment to undergraduate programs of the NU Schools.
A-level – (The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education) the standard school-leaving qualification offered by educational institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and widely recognized in Europe, USA and also in many other parts of the world. A-levels are studied over a two- year period and are the standard entry qualification for assessing the suitability of applicants for academic courses in English, Welsh and Northern Irish universities;
ACT (American College Testing) – a standardized test for secondary school achievement and college admissions in USA. The test has an optional 30 minutes long writing section (ACT with writing results);
Admissions Committee – an advisory and consultative body of the University established to implement arrangements for admission to the undergraduate programs of the University;
Admission period – a set of deadlines for applying to University, which includes the online registration, document review, evaluation processes and enrollment;
Applicant – a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a foreign citizen or a stateless individual taking part in the competition;
Application form – an application for admission to the undergraduate programs placed in the Personal account;
College – an educational institution in Kazakhstan that offers the educational curricula of general secondary, technical and vocational education or post-secondary education;
ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) – a standardized system to compare students' academic performance at higher education institutions across European Union and its collaborative countries;
Enrollment confirmation form – a form filled and signed by applicants upon receipt of an offer letter to the undergraduate programs of the University, which is the reason for admission to, or exclusion from enrollment to the studies;
Enrollment deposit – a mandatory payment that secures the applicant’s place in an undergraduate program;
Guarantee fee – a mandatory payment that secures the applicant’s place in an undergraduate program. The amount of the guarantee fee is determined in accordance with the decision of the Managing Council of the University;
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) – a standardized English proficiency test administered by the British Council, University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, and IDP Education Pty Ltd;
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) – an intensive two-year international educational program that helps students enter undergraduate programs at universities directly;
NIS Grade 12 Certificate – certificate of the autonomous educational organisation “Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools” on the completion of the integrated programme in collaboration with Cambridge Assessment International Education awarded to students who passed exams of external summative evaluation upon completion of the 12th grade;
Personal account – an online service providing a personal space on the University's website upon registration;
QS World University rankings – the annual world university rankings published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) which provides overall rankings as well as rankings for individual subjects;
SAT (SAT – Scholastic Aptitude Test or Scholastic Assessment Test) a standardized test for college admissions in the USA. There are SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Test. The SAT Reasoning Test consists of three sections: Mathematics, Critical Reading and Writing. The SAT Subject Test identify students’ aptitude to study certain subjects. There are 20 SAT Subject Tests in five general subject areas: English, history, languages, mathematics and science;
School – School of the University that offers undergraduate programs;
Superscoring – consideration of the highest section scores from two or more test certificates in order to obtain the best overall score;
Times Higher Education World University rankings – the annual world university rankings published by the British magazine Times Higher Education (THE) which provides both the overall and the subject rankings;
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – a standardized English proficiency test developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) (Princeton, New Jersey, USA) in the format of TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) and TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test);
Transfer student – a student who has completed secondary level education and has completed at least one year in a tertiary college or university program in Kazakhstan or abroad and wishes to enroll to an undergraduate program at the University;
University Foundation Programme – one-year preparatory program of the University that helps students enter undergraduate programs at universities directly;
University website – the University web-resource available at nu.edu.kz.
University - the autonomous organization of education "Nazarbayev University"
The majority of students study under the educational scholarship of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Besides, there is an opportunity to study on a fee-paying basis. Admission on a fee-paying basis is carried out on a competitive basis in accordance with the Rules for Admission of the respective program/speciality. Please look through the Funding opportunities to study at Nazarbayev University.
Undergraduate program offers the following majors:
| STEP 1. Create your personal account | Register on www.admissions.nu.edu.kz portal to create a Personal Account. Read the instructions about the application procedure given in your Personal account; | ||||||
| STEP 2. Complete your Application Form and attach required documents | Fill out the application form and attach the required documents: 1. Scanned copy of a National ID card or passport; 2. Scanned copy of secondary school or higher education institution certificate (attestat/diploma) with final academic performance or certificate from the school (spravka) according to the sample in the personal account; 4. Personal Statement; 5. Valid copies of IELTS/TOEFL and/or SAT/ACT certificates. The results of standardized tests (IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, ACT) must be sent directly to the University through test Administrators; 6. Pay online application fee; 7. Press the "SUBMIT APPLICATION" button. | ||||||
| STEP 3. Pay an application fee | The application fee is paid online via your personal account with a bank card. The amount to pay is 5 000 tenge. All application fees are non-refundable. | ||||||
| Step 4. Finish the registration process | Finish the registration process by pressing the “Submit application” button. After submission applicants can’t change their applications | ||||||
| Further steps | Check your e-mail for notifications from the NU Admissions Department and your personal account to learn about your application status | ||||||
If you experience any difficulties with the registration or online application, please contact info_admissions@nu.edu.kz. Refer to your IIN and/or Applicant ID while sending us your requests
Important dates for those who are applying for the 2021-2022 academic year:
| Online Application period: | October 26, 2020 – April 19, 2021 |
| Submission of hard copies of required documents, including test reports *: | to be announced |
| Admission Committee decision: | to be announced |
| Dormitory check-in: | to be announced |
| *only for admitted students upon request of Admissions Department | |
| Orientation week: | to be announced |
| Class starts: | to be announced |
| Deadline for taking tests for undergraduate programs: | |
| SAT Reasoning / Subject: | May 8, 2021 |
| ACT: | April 17, 2021 |
| IELTS / TOEFL: | to be announced |
| The tests must be sent to the University address via test administrator using the code (Institutional Code) of Nazarbayev University: | |
Nazarbayev University (through IELTS TRF Verification Service) – for IELTS | |
| 6762 – for TOEFL | |
| 7915 – for SAT | |
| 5521 – for ACT with Writing Part | |
Minimum requirements for graduates or students of the final year of secondary school, colleges, UK Foundation program and graduates of the A-level program
| Schools/ Requirements | School of Sciences and Humanities | School of Engineering and Digital Sciences | School of Mining and Geosciences | School of Medicine | |
| Science majors | Humanities majors | ||||
| IELTS or TOEFL | IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) OR TOEFL iBT – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21) OR TOEFL PDT* – 574 | ||||
| SAT Reasoning Test ** or ACT | SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 Essay is required, no minimum score OR ACT – 27 composite score. Writing part is required, no minimum score | ||||
| SAT Subject Test | 600 for each subject (Biology and Chemistry or Physics and Math) | not required | 600 for each subject (Maths and Physics) | Not required | |
| Interview | not required | At the request of the Admissions Committee | Required | ||
* TOEFL PDT is admitted only from international applicants from the countries where an official IELTS and TOEFL IBT are not available
** The Nazarbayev University applies the Superscoring for SAT scores.
Minimum requirements for graduates and holders of NIS Grade 12 Certificate*
| Schools/ Requirements | School of Sciences and Humanities | School of Engineering and Digital Sciences | School of Mining and Geosciences | School of Medicine |
| IELTS or TOEFL | IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) OR TOEFL iBT – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21) OR TOEFL PDT* – 574 | |||
| NIS 12 Grade Certificate | A B B (any subjects) | |||
| Interview | Not required | At the request of the Admissions Committee | Required | |
*NIS Grade 12 Certificate holders can also participate in the competition in the "Graduates of secondary schools" category with IELTS and SAT results (see the minimum requirements for this category on the website).
**TOEFL PDT is admitted only from international applicants from the countries where an official IELTS and TOEFL IBT are not available
Minimum requirements for graduates and holders of IВ Diploma Program*
| Schools/ Requirements | School of Sciences and Humanities | School of Engineering and Digital Sciences | School of Mining and Geosciences | School of Medicine |
IELTS or TOEFL | IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) | |||
IB DP | 30 total score and | |||
Interview | Not required | At the request of the Admissions Committee | Required | |
** IB DP holders can also participate in the competition in the "Graduates of secondary schools" category with IELTS and SAT results (see the minimum requirements for this category on the website).
** TOEFL PDT certificate is admitted only from the international applicants from the countries where an official IELTS and TOEFL IBT are not available
Minimum requirements for transfer students*
| Schools/ Requirements | School of Sciences and Humanities | School of Engineering and Digital Sciences | School of Mining and Geosciences | School of Medicine | |
| Science majors: | Humanities majors: | ||||
| IELTS or TOEFL | IELTS – 6.5 overall (6.0 in each section) OR TOEFL iBT – 79 (reading – 13, listening – 12, speaking – 18, writing – 21) OR TOEFL PDT* – 574 | ||||
| SAT Reasoning Test*** or ACT | SAT Reasoning Test – 1240 Essay is required, no minimum score OR ACT – 27 composite score. Writing part is required, no minimum score | ||||
| SAT Subject Test | 600 for each subject (Biology and Chemistry or Physics and Math) | not required | 600 for each subject (Maths and Physics) | Not required | |
| GPA/ Recommendation letters | 3.0 out of 4.0/ 2 letters | ||||
| Interview | Not required | At the request of the Admissions Committee | Required | ||
*Applicants/students who have successfully completed at least one academic year of an undergraduate program at a university with the English language as an official language of instruction and included in the list of top 200 universities according to the Times Higher Education World University or QS World University ranking at the time of application, are exempt from submitting SAT and IELTS/TOEFL results.
** TOEFL PDT certificate is admitted only from international applicants from the countries where an official IELTS and TOEFL IBT are not available
***The Nazarbayev University applies the Superscoring for SAT scores.
The list of Subject Olympiads*
List of International Subject Olympiads
- International Mathematics Olympiad – IMO
- International Physics Olympiad – IPHO
- International Chemistry Olympiad -IChO
- International Biology Olympiad IBO
- International Olympiad in Informatics – IOI
- International Zhautykov Olympiad in Mathematics, Physics and Informatics
- International Mendeleyev Chemistry Olympiad
List of Republican Subject Olympiads of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Republican Mathematics Olympiad
- Republican Physics Olympiad
- Republican Chemistry Olympiad
- Republican Biology Olympiad
- Republican Informatics Olympiad
* Applicants can apply with both Republican and International Olympiads
Minimum requirements for the winners of the International or/and Republican Subject Olympiads
| Type of Olympiad | Medal type | Minimum requirements for IELTS or TOEFL | Interview with Admission Committee |
| Republic Olympiad | gold and silver medals (I, II place) for the current academic year | IELTS/TOEFL is required, no minimum score* | Required |
| International Olympiad* | gold, silver and bronze medals (I, II, III place) for the last three years |
*IELTS or TOEFL IBT / TOEFL PDT results are reviewed by the Admissions Committee individually
List of the documents for online registration
- Application form;
- Electronic copy of national ID or/and passport (in case of absence of an ID or registration for international tests using passport). Applicants under the age of 16 - an electronic copy of the birth certificate;
- School graduates - electronic copy of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school or college with transcript or its foreign equivalent, A-level certificate or UK Foundation Programme (if available at the time of documents submission). Current final year student - a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account;
- Motivation letter in English;
- A valid electronic SAT Reasoning Test certificate (must be valid and passed no more than 3 years ago at the moment of online document submission) with a writting part or ACT certificate with writing (electronic or paper versions (with the subsequent provision of an official electronic certificate, and sending electronic SAT / ACT results through the College Board/ACT). In case the applicant provides several valid SAT Reasoning Test certificates, the Superscoring will be applied (using the highest scores across all examination sections of the test to obtain the best score).
Those who apply to the School of Science and Humanities (to Science majors only) and School of Mining and Geosciences programs - a valid electronic SAT Subject Test certificate (no more than 3 years at the moment of application submission, with the subsequent provision of an official electronic certificate, and sending electronic SAT results through the College Board) official electronic version of the Subject Test certificate (if needed). Superscoring applies in case of submitting multiple valid SAT Subject Test certificates. - A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.
All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.
List of documents (hardcopies) for applicants who successfully passed the competition.
- Notarized copy of ID or passport. For applicants under the age of 16 - a notarized copy of the birth certificate;
- The official original document and notarized copy of high school diploma with transcript or technical, vocational, or post-secondary (диплом) or higher education diploma, or bachelor or specialist diploma;
- After an offer letter - Original copy of signed Enrollment Confirmation Form printed from your Personal Account;
- After receiving an offer letter - Consent form on Guarantee fee payment printed from your Personal Account;
- Original copy of signed Consent for personal data processing printed from your Personal Account.
List of the documents for online registration
- Application form;
- An electronic copy of national ID or/and passport (in case of absence of an ID or registration for international tests using passport). Applicants under the age of 16 - an electronic copy of the birth certificate;
- NIS graduates - an electronic copy of the NIS Grade 12 certificate with final grades.
- NIS students - the expected result of the NIS Grade 12 certificate with grades, certified by the educational institution, followed by the provision of the original document on paper;
- Motivation letter in English;
- School graduates - electronic copy of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of school. Current final year student - a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account;
- A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.
All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.
List of documents (hardcopies) for applicants who successfully passed the competition.
- Notarized copy of ID or passport. For applicants under the age of 16 - a notarized copy of the birth certificate;
- The official original document and notarized copy of high school diploma with transcript or technical, vocational, or post-secondary (диплом) or higher education diploma, or bachelor or specialist diploma;
- After an offer letter - Original copy of signed Enrollment Confirmation Form printed from your Personal Account;
- After receiving an offer letter - Consent form on Guarantee fee payment printed from your Personal Account;
- Original copy of signed Consent for personal data processing printed from your Personal Account.
- The official original document and notarized copy of NIS Grade 12 Certificate;
List of the documents for online registration
- Application form;
- An electronic copy of national ID or/and passport (in case of absence of an ID or registration for international tests using passport). Applicants under the age of 16 - an electronic copy of the birth certificate;
- IB Diploma Program graduates - an electronic copy of the Diploma (IB DP) with final grades.
- IB DP students - the predicted grades, certified by the educational institution, followed by the provision of the original document on paper;
- Motivation letter in English;
- School graduates - electronic copy of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of school. Current final year student - a certificate from an educational institution according to the sample in personal account;
- A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.
All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.
List of documents (hardcopies) for applicants who successfully passed the competition.
- Notarized copy of ID or passport. For applicants under the age of 16 - a notarized copy of the birth certificate;
- The official original document and notarized copy of high school diploma with transcript or technical, vocational, or post-secondary (диплом) or higher education diploma, or bachelor or specialist diploma;
- After an offer letter - Original copy of signed Enrollment Confirmation Form printed from your Personal Account;
- After receiving an offer letter - Consent form on Guarantee fee payment printed from your Personal Account;
- Original copy of signed Consent for personal data processing printed from your Personal Account.
- The official original document and notarized copy of IB Diploma Programme with transcript;
List of the documents for online registration
- Application form;
- An electronic copy of national ID or/and passport (in case of absence of an ID or registration for international tests using passport). Applicants under the age of 16 - an electronic copy of the birth certificate;
- School graduates - electronic copy of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school or college with transcript or its foreign equivalent, A-level certificate or UK Foundation Programme (if available at the time of documents submission). Current final year student - a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account;
- Motivation letter in English;
- A valid electronic SAT Reasoning Test certificate (must be valid and passed no more than 3 years ago at the moment of online document submission) with a writting part or ACT certificate with writing (electronic or paper versions (with the subsequent provision of an official electronic certificate, and sending electronic SAT / ACT results through the College Board/ACT). In case the applicant provides several valid SAT Reasoning Test certificates, the Superscoring will be applied (using the highest scores across all examination sections of the test to obtain the best score).
Those who apply to the School of Science and Humanities (to Science majors only) and School of Mining and Geosciences programs - a valid electronic SAT Subject Test certificate (no more than 3 years at the moment of application submission, with the subsequent provision of an official electronic certificate, and sending electronic SAT results through the College Board) official electronic version of the Subject Test certificate (if needed). Superscoring applies in case of submitting multiple valid SAT Subject Test certificates. - A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.
- An electronic copy of the transcript from the university attended in original language and English or academic reports with predicted scores acknowledged by the university attended;
- An electronic copy of the course description of studied courses/subjects from the university attended in both English and original languages;
- Two electronic academic reference letters in English.
All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.
List of documents (hardcopies) for applicants who successfully passed the competition.
- Notarized copy of ID or passport. For applicants under the age of 16 - a notarized copy of the birth certificate;
- The official original document and notarized copy of high school diploma with a transcript or technical, vocational, or post-secondary (диплом) or higher education diploma, or bachelor or specialist diploma;
- After an offer letter - Original copy of signed Enrollment Confirmation Form printed from your Personal Account;
- After receiving an offer letter - Consent form on Guarantee fee payment printed from your Personal Account;
- Original copy of signed Consent for personal data processing printed from your Personal Account.
- The hard copy of an official transcript from the University attended in original and English language;
- Course description of studied courses/subjects in both English and original languages;
List of the documents for online registration
- Filled online Application form;
- Electronic copy of national ID or/and passport (in case of absence of an ID or registration for international tests using passport). Applicants under the age of 16 - an electronic copy of the birth certificate;
- School graduates - electronic copy of a nationally recognized certificate stating completion of a secondary school or college with transcript or its foreign equivalent, A-level certificate or UK Foundation Programme (if available at the time of documents submission). Current final year student - a certificate from educational institution according to the sample in personal account;
- Motivation letter in English;
- A valid official electronic IELTS/TOEFL certificate (no more than 2 years from the date of issue of the document), valid at the time of document submission, with a subsequent obligation to send electronic IELTS/TOEFL results through IELTS/TOEFL VERIFICATION SERVICES.
- Electronic copy of Diploma/Certificate of International and/or Republican Olympiad (only for International/Republic Olympiad winners of Olympiads listed at nu.edu.kz website).
All the documents above must be uploaded to the applicant’s personal account. In the absence or mismatch of one or more documents, the applicant is not allowed to participate in the competition.
List of documents (hardcopies) for applicants who successfully passed the competition.
- Notarized copy of ID or passport. For applicants under the age of 16 - a notarized copy of the birth certificate;
- The official original document and notarized copy of high school diploma with transcript or technical, vocational, or post-secondary (диплом) or higher education diploma, or bachelor or specialist diploma;
- After an offer letter - Original copy of signed Enrollment Confirmation Form printed from your Personal Account;
- After receiving an offer letter - Consent form on Guarantee fee payment printed from your Personal Account;
- Original copy of signed Consent for personal data processing printed from your Personal Account.
- Notarized copy of Diploma/certificate of International and/or Republican Olympiad;
- Applications are considered to be complete upon their online submission. All electronic copies of the required documents must be uploaded in “Personal Account”.
- Applicants are responsible for ensuring the receipt of all required documents by the Admissions Department. Application documents are not the subject to be returned.
- Nazarbayev University expects applicants to meet the minimum admission criteria but we do not guarantee admission to any applicant. The NU Admissions Committees make decisions on applicants based on a thorough evaluation of submitted applications, required documents, and test scores.
- The applicants with the highest-ranking scores are offered admission. Once a decision is made by the Admissions Committee, the Admissions Department will notify the applicants via email. The applicants can check the status of their applications in their NU personal accounts.
- The applicants offered admission are required to formally accept or decline the University offer to study by sending the completed Enrollment Form. This will be available upon the acceptance of the admission offer you will need to pay an Enrollment Deposit, refunded only upon signing the Contract on Rendering Education Services with the University after matriculation.
- All hard copies of the required documents must be delivered to the Admissions Department by the established deadline.
Please see the online application tips here.
Information on standardized tests with links to preparation materials, schedule, registration, and getting results is shown below.
| No | Title | Preparation | Schedule | Registration | Results |
| 1 | SAT | Read more | Read more | Read more | Read more |
| Read more | |||||
| Read more | |||||
| 2 | ACT | Read more | Read more | Read more | Read more |
| 3 | IELTS | Read more | Read more | Read more | Read more |
| 4 | TOEFL iBT | Read more | Read more | Read more | Read more |
Below the important information that we hope will be useful to you.
| No | Main points | Detailed information |
| 1 | Helpful videos | The first virtual day of Nazarbayev University took place in September this year. On the website open.nu.edu.kz, you can find helpful videos from NU professors and staff. Videos are available until March 2021. |
| 2 | Regulations | Please find the Regulations for Admission to the Undergraduate Program of the autonomous organization of education ‘Nazarbayev University’ without completion of the Nazarbayev University Foundation Year Program here. |
| 3 | Frequently Asked Questions | You can find answers to frequently asked questions here. |
| 4 | Differences between Foundation and Undergraduate program | For more information on the difference between Foundation and Undergraduate programs, follow the link. |
| 5 | Services at NU | The Department of lifelong Learning offers language and preparatory courses at Nazarbayev University. For more information go to the Department’s website. |
| 6 | Conditions | To learn more about the conditions of the provision of education services in Nazarbayev University, click here. |
| 7 | Institutional Code | The tests should be sent to the University address via the test administrator using the code (Institutional Code) of Nazarbayev University.
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